This is the first-ever photo of a black hole

Katey Psencik, GateHouse Media

Wednesday

Apr 10, 2019 at 9:29 AM

Scientists have, for the first time, captured an image of a black hole.

The image, captured by the Event Horizon Telescope, "shows a bright ring formed as light bends in the intense gravity around a black hole that is 6.5 billion times more massive than the Sun," according to EHT officials.

The image is the first visual evidence of a supermassive black hole. The shadow of a black hole is the closest scientists are able to get to taking a photo of the black hole itself, since black holes are completely dark.

"This is an extraordinary scientific feat accomplished by a team of more than 200 researchers," said Sheperd S. Doeleman, the director of the EHT project.

The black hole in the image is at the center of Messeir 87, a galaxy 50 million light years from Earth. It's one of the biggest known black holes.

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